INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY

A massive thank you to Linda Munequita of Meaningful Jewelry for supplying the giveaway prize!

Do you want to win a gorgeous 'Ohana' ring?

To enter, all you have to do is email me at theawkwarddonkey@gmail.com with your name, and GIVEAWAY in the subject line. This is an international giveaway, and the winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway closes next Friday at 6:00am.

Good luck!

It means no worries

The amazing Linda Munequita of Meaningful Jewelry sent me not one, not two, but three gorgeous rings! (Get your hands on one of these gorgeous rings, by following the steps at the end of this post.)

"I am a curious and self -taught person.

I am married to a wonderful and talented man. We are the lucky parents of two wonderful kids.

I love to travel, reading, watch movies, being with my family staring at the fireplace, enjoy time with my friends, to craft, I thing happines is made of little pleasures, and I can say, I am Happy!

thanks for stopping by, I hope you will find somethin onteresting for yourself or someone you cherish.

Come to join my facebook page for sneakpeaks, noveltys an promo codes:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Mu%C3%B1equita/354242111266316

Looking for statement jewelry for him, please visist my Hubby's etsy shop:

www.kennysfactory.etsy.com"

If you ignore the fact that my photography is out of focus, you will realise just how LUSH these rings are! 

The first ring is from the classic 90's film The Lion King, and as Pumbaa and Timon sing, 'Hakuna Matata, it means no worries for the rest of your days.'

I wore this ring to my interview at the Brit School, and I felt so confident showing it off!

The second ring Linda sent me was the Ohana ring. 'Ohana' is from my FAVOURITE Disney film, Lilo&Stitch. Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind - or forgotten.

Both rings fit perfectly, and have a vintage look about them. Inside both, a small heart, which really makes these rings adorable.

Even the packaging was gorgeous - a small box with a fluffy inside covering, with heart cutout in the box and the rings covered in green paper.

Linda's Etsy - www.lindamunequita.etsy.com

Linda's Artfire - www.lindamunequita.artfire.com

AND, you can be in with a chance of winning your own OHANA ring!

All you have to do is email me at theawkwarddonkey@gmail.com with your name, with GIVEAWAY in the subject line. International giveaway. Winner chosen at random. Giveaway closes next Friday at 6:00am.

Again, thank you Linda so much for these stunning rings!

I JUST GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE BRIT SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU HEARD RIGHT!!!!!! AS OF AUGUST 2013 I WILL BE ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS!!!

(: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST GOING TO GO PARTY WITH JADEN SMITH.....

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Amortentia - the world's most powerful love potion.

The amazing Melanie of Dynamic Alley sent me one of her stunning love potion necklaces to review. Thank you Melanie - it's gorgeous!

My daughters went to a Harry Potter themed Halloween party last year. We had so much fun putting the costumes together and making wands and jewelry. In fact, I had so much fun I just kept making wands. My daughter took the extra wands to school for her friends. They were a big hit. I sold some wands on online Facebook auctions between Halloween and Christmas.

I spent some time doing research and working on ideas and I started my Etsy shop, Dynamic Alley, in February 2013.

I have always loved art and design. I took every art and design class I could. I even took some woods and drafting classes. From a young age I enjoyed doing crafts, making holiday decorations and gifts, etc. I look for ideas everywhere. You never know when inspiration will strike! When I get an ideas I write it down in my notebook. I keep the idea in the back of my mind as I go about my day to day routine. 

Sometimes, inspiration strikes all at once, and I'll know exactly what I want to do. Other times it comes in bits and pieces, and I try to jot them down in the notebook where I wrote down the idea. I look for inspiration for my ideas on the internet, in magazines and stores, and in everyday life. Ocassionaly, I get some help from my husband and kids; but mostly I run Dynamic Alley myself. 

Depending on the piece, it can take anywhere from about 20 minutes to an hour to make something. Some are more involve than others. With the potion charm necklaces I have to “brew” the potion and seal the bottle. Then, I make the label and adhere it; and last make the necklace for the potion charm.

I like to find different ways to make jewelry that is inspired by events, items or characters in the books/movies. I want them to reflect the inspiring element, and also reflect some of who I am and my vision for that element. My goal is to create uniquely inspired jewelry.

The colour of the Amortentia potion is a striking red which means that this necklace is a striking statement. I also love the key charm attached to the bottle, and to me its little details like this that really makes an accessory worth wearing.

Even the packing in itself was lovely, as the necklace came in a classic Harry Potter styled envelope, which just added to the appeal.

The chain of the necklace is reasonably thick so it isn't flimsy enough to snap, yet not so thick that it distracts from the necklace.

"This potion may cause a powerful infatuation or obsession, but cannot create true feelings of love"

You can just tell that Melanie spent ages making this necklace perfect - It really is lovely!

Dynamic Alley also sells personalised Hogwarts acceptance letters, wands, wand pens, custom journals, composition books and more.

"Dynamic Alley is the home for many of your wizarding needs..."

Go to www.facebook.com/dynamicalleywizardry for the Dynamic Alley Facebook page, or visit www.etsy.com/shop/dynamicalley for the Dynamic Alley Etsy shop.

Also, just for being a reader of Blue Scarf Girl, by entering BLUESCARF100 at the checkout of Dynamic Alley, you will get 10% off all purchases.

So what are you waiting for? Go buy a stunning statement necklace at Dynamic Alley now!

Mid-Year Resolutions

Just letting you know that I'm well on my way to completely acing my Mid-Year Resolutions. Along with my no-salt diet, jogging every day, no chocolate or crisps (failed that one..), I am now a vegetarian.

Yep, you heard right, VEGETARIAN.

Woo, go vegetables?

Big Bang Theory Inspired Tote

The lovely Roisin Taylor of Invisible Duck Crafts sent me a completely AHmazing Big Bang Theory 'BAZINGA!' inspired tote bag. I love it - thank you so much Roisin!

"I opened my shop in April 2012 to make some extra money while I was at uni after I experimented with stencilled t-shirts and after I started I just couldn't stop :) And all the products that I make are all inspired by things that I love so it never feels like work"

The bag is cotton and was strong enough to hold all my school books, which is great because not many canvas bags could hold that weight!

It is blatant that the character is Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory on the front, as not only does it look like him but beneath the image it says his classic phrase, 'bazinga'.

"A Big Bang Theory inspired canvas bag with everyones favourite super geek Dr Sheldon Cooper. All bags are hand painted and are therefore unique so designs may vary ever so slightly.

Bags are made to order and can be customised to include a name or the colours can be changed to suit your taste. If you wish your bag to be customised please convo me and I'll see what I can do :)"

I have to be honest and say that I just love the simplicity of the bag, and the fact that it shows off my geeky style. A satchel may be for Christmas but a tote is for life - am I right?

Roisin's Etsy is Here! and the BAZINGA tote is Here!

Again, thank you Roisin for such a lush bag!

REGULAR PEOPLE ARE UGLY

Just came across this.

WHAAAAAT?

Naw, I'm an ugly regular person.

Big Bang Theory Hairstyles Laser T Shirt 3 Colours S-XXL DTG075

Baldeep Farmah of DTGprintz was kind enough to send me one of his Big Bang Theory Hairstyles Laser T Shirt 3 Colours S-XXL DTG075 shirts, to review on my blog, so thank you Baldeep!

"DTGprintz uses Direct to Garment Printing (DTG) which is a breathtaking piece of new technology. It’s a bit like a desktop printer but a million times better. It's amazing at accurately reproducing photos, illustrations and more complex full colour designs and patterns.

Since opening our own store on eBay and ETSY back in August 2012 we have shipped more than 1500 T shirts. We ship internationally to all countries using Royal Mail. All our clothing is packaged securely in waterproof bags. 

We have produced a range of designs all available in male and female keeping up with current trends. We regularly add new designs and always willing to help customers with bespoke items. We have the unique ability for customers to upload their own pictures or files and modify them with our online design software, if interested please check out www.dtgprintz.com. You can even get our designs there and change the colours to suit your taste, add some text and even import your pictures from Facebook. The possibilities are endless. 

DTGprintz has opened up a new venture in helping others to open their own Shops. We provide everything, from website templates, to online designer software, to secure payment gateway and even a free domain name. What the cost? Nothing. You set the prices and earn the commission you want, we then receive the order automatically and then we print, pack and dispatch your items. The commission is automatically paid into your PayPal account. This is no risk no fee opportunity. It’s our business to help you with your business."

This shirt is inspired by the award-winning (my favourite) American sitcom - The Big Bang Theory, and I have to admit that I fell in love with it the second I saw it!

It is ring spun and 100% cotton, which means it's incredibly soft, and comfier than cashmere! The design is really bright and vibrant, and friends and family members even commented on how nice it is. The colours on the shirt means that it can be worn with anything, from red shorts to a brown leather jacket, and even yellow items of clothing (which is a hard colour to match!). 

Another thing that I love about this shirt is that not only can it be worn with any colours, but also any style. Match with wedges for a classy look, kitten heels for a smart look, or some sneakers for a casual look. Seriously - it'd go with anything!

It is blatant who the four characters are, so you can easily distinguish who's Sheldon, who's Rajj, and who's Howard, and especially Leonard by his inquisitive eyebrows. To me, this shirt reflects my geeky personality, because I am a total slave to The Big Bang Theory.

It is American sized, and although I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't fit, I found that it fitted perfectly. The sizing is perfect for me, and you may also find that sizing from the USA is more precise that UK sizing. That's what I thought anyway (:

Their sizing goes as follows:

MEN'S T SHIRT SIZE 

Small 32": Chest 18" Length 26.5 

Medium 38": Chest 20" Length 27.5 

Large 42": Chest 22" Length 28.5 

XLarge 46": Chest 24" Length 29.5 

XXLarge 50":Chest 26" Length 30.5 

WOMEN'S T SHIRT SIZE

Small 10": Chest 18" Length 26.5

Medium 12": Chest 20" Length 27.5

Large 14": Chest 22" Length 28.5

XLarge 16": Chest 24" Length 29.5

XXLarge 18":Chest 26" Length 30.5

They do this particular shirt in black, grey or white, and if you check out their Etsy, you'll notice a LOAD of other lush shirt designs.

You can check out the exact product that I was sent HERE.

Their website is HERE.

AND, for being an amazing reader of Blue Scarf Girl, you can enter TH4NKS50 at the checkout to get 50p off your order at DTGprintz!

Again, thank you Baldeep for the amazing shirt!

The Brahmin and the Mongoose

There are many versions of The Brahmin and The Mongoose, but the most traditional one is the following, taken and translated from and Indian script (although I have deleted some parts, as the story  I found was a bit long);

There was once a Brahman named Godly who lived with his wife, their single son, and a mungoose. And the mother loved little ones, she cared for the mungoose also like a son, giving him the same care as their child. But she did not trust him, for she thought: “A mungoose is a nasty kind of creature. He might hurt my boy.”

One day she tucked her son in bed, took a waterjar, and said to her husband: “Now, I am going for water. You must protect the boy from the mungoose.” But when she was gone, the Brahman went off somewhere, leaving the house empty.

While he was gone, a black snake issued from his hole and, as fate would have it, crawled toward the baby’s cradle. But the mungoose, feeling him to be a natural enemy, and fearing for the life of his baby brother, fell upon the vicious serpent halfway, joined battle with him, tore him to bits, and tossed the pieces far and wide. Then, delighted with his own heroism, he ran, blood trickling from his mouth, to meet the mother; for he wished to show what he had done.

But when the mother saw him coming, saw his bloody mouth and his excitement, she feared that the villain must have eaten her baby boy, and without thinking twice, she angrily dropped the water-jar upon him, which killed him the moment that it struck. There she left him without a second thought, and hurried home, where she found the baby safe and sound, and near the cradle a great black snake, torn to bits.

I first read about The Brahman and The Mongoose by Sangu Mandana, in her book The Lost Girl. It might just be me, but I found the story so sad that I had to share it.

Moral?

Don't be so quick to judge.

Sheesh, people.

Pudge Controls The Weather

I thought it was just a simple comment from Lilo, but after some research, I found out the true meaning to Lilo's innocent "Pudge controls the weather".

As we all know, Lilo is from THE BEST DISNEY MOVIE EVER, 'Lilo and Stitch'. Basically, Lilo rushes into dance practice late because she has to feed Pudge the fish a peanut butter sandwhich every Thursday. As it happens, that Thursday they had no peanut butter, so Naani said for Lilo to give Pudge a tuna sandwhich.

"I can't give Pudge tuna! Do you know what tuna is? I'd be an abomination!"

So she is late to dance because they had to buy peanut butter so that Lilo could give Pudge his sandwhich.

After watching Lilo and Stitch for the gazillionth time, I decided to find out more. 

I found out that Lilo has to give Pudge his weekly sandwhich because her parents died in a car crash caused by bad weather conditions, and as Pudge controls the weather, by her giving him his weekly sandwhich he will make sure something like that doesn't happen again. As she says, her family is already "broken".

I had to take several deep breathes and slap my cheeks a few times so I wouldn't cry, but you have permission to let a tear or two slide down your face.

Start crying...

Now.